Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Mauritius will on 20-21 June host the Women’s Forum Global Meeting, a platform for highly influential women and men to reflect upon and share ideas and views on the crucial need to transform economies and societies across the world.

The theme of the forum is "Meeting the Climate Challenge for SIDS (Small Islands Developing States) and Africa."

Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, on Thursday indicated that 2016 will be the first time that the Women’s Forum will be held in Africa.

"It is a privilege to welcome the Forum in Mauritius which is organised in different locations across the world so as to make people understand the conditions in which women are evolving in," she said.

According to her, the event has an impact around the world in creating a network so that societies come out as winners.

Outlining the history of the Women’s Forum which existed since 2005 and operated essentially from Deauville, France, Mrs Gurib-Fakim said each year the Forum is organised in the period of October to November/December, and attracts nearly 1,500 to 2,000 participants to discuss thematics comprising society, enterprises, and feminine conditions, amongst others.

Beyond Deauville, the Women’s Forum has been organised in other locations namely: Burma, China, Mexico, Dubai, and Italy, she revealed.

"The Women’s Forum Mauritius will take up the Innovation challenge for Island States and Africa during the two-day high-level meeting for scientists, policymakers and business leaders coming from Africa, Europe and Asia. It will also showcase Mauritius’s remarkably rich natural flora and fauna, while underlying why it is a global biodiversity hot spot," she emphasised.

Participants in the forum will debate climate and health solutions; climate, agriculture and biodiversity best practices; sustainable energy and water and sanitation for Africa and SIDS; how to advance innovation in agriculture, health and land use; improving the participation of women and youth in scientific and technological training; and processes for frugal green innovations with value-added for SIDS and African economies.
-0- PANA NA/VAO 20May2016